Petits Canards

A fish story could have been appropriate for April Fools Day but it is actually a sad story. All my little fish that have always been so happy to see me when I was approaching to feed them and that looked so healthy and lively in their pond died on Sunday due to water poisoning (probably too much chlorine in Darwin's water). Fortunately, I still have thousands of natural fish in the marina at the back of my house and most importantly the little duck family that had disappeared for a while has just started to reappear. It is amazing to see of the ducklings have grown since the last time they paid me a visit. I had feared they might have been eaten by a crocodile or something but they are obviously too smart for that!

Have you fed the fish?

We have this small pond (or whatever you may call it) by the front door of our unit in Darwin and we bought a few fish when we arrived. The daily ritual was to ask each other if we had fed the fish. Unfortunately, I am temporarily alone so I can't ask: "Have you fed the fish?" but I surely enjoy the company of my 5 little friends who come to suck on my finger if I put it on the surface of the water. Sadly, in a week time they will be left to another tennant. I hope they will be cared for as much as they are now. They seem to have acclimatised quite well to this environment that surely offers them more space than a tiny glasswalled aquarium.

Mr. Barra

As famous as Mr. Croc comes Mr. Barra. The Barramundi is the fish of the Northern Territory (even though it can be found in several places around South East Asia and the Persian Gulf). Territorians main passtime is to go fishing for Barramundi. It lives in freshwater, Billabongs and salty waters. Actually the saltwater Barramundi is usually favoured for having a more delicate flesh and less body fat. Once cooked, I admit it is difficult not to fall for this buttery flesh with a mild salty flavour. A real delicacy. It has fast become my favourite fish. It is possible to literally touch some live ones in a few places in the area and I took a few pictures at the aquarium the other day that I will post at one point or the other. In the meantime, here's a reproduction gracing a fisho's shop in Katherine.

Fish Tour!

Don't you think that it is an amazing way of travelling for fish? They seem to have a free tour of Ho Chi Minh. At least they must be quite protected from the pollution but just imagine being a fish living peacefully in a protected environment somewhere on a nice reef and suddenly finding yourself among the humans in the chaos of the city. It must be a real shock!

Gurame Goreng

I was in Indonesia again today and I went to one of my favourite restaurants to have a very nice freshwater fish called Gurame. It is fried (goreng) and presented as per the picture. I know it looks a bit weird and the photo above might not make you feel hungry but I can assure you it is an absolutely tasty flesh.